Balancing and fitting tyres - SV650.org

northwind · 26-01-05, 08:52 PM

I saw a feature in Ride or TWO this month about fitting your own tyres... I've always just used dealers for this, after all I should only go through a Roadtec rear every year and a half or so, and fronts more rarely... But I got to thinking, the hardware is £150, but you stand to save maybe £20-£25 per tyre by getting cheap tyres and avoiding labour costs each time... It's more effort but it means not having to fit into dealer's diaries and just changind when you want to. So if I just used it myself it'd be paid for in 4 years or so (more f I get stuck into trackdays, I don't see a Rennsport or Diablo Corsa set lasting all that long)

With this sort of simple gear, can a home mechanic do as good a job as a shop mechanic? (is the balancer even neccesary or could the same be achieved by cheaper means? I have a spare set of forks I could adapt...)

26-01-05, 09:32 PM

Where would you get these significantly cheaper tyres from? I've looked and I can manage less than £10 less than my local places ride-in ride-out fitting price, for any suitable tyre I care to look up.

Btw, I also saw the article and was thinking the same thing as you.

northwind · 26-01-05, 09:57 PM

Well, lets see... I paid £190 inc vat for front and rear roadtecs plus fitting... Crossan Motorcycles would do the pair for £155 including postage. £160 from Seastar... First 2 prices I looked at

Though to be fair when i got those fitted they were pretty new on the market, it could be that the dealers' price would have dropped now. I might give them a bell tomorrow and see what they have to say.

It's unlikely to make much sense for most riders, especially us using long-range boots like the Roadtec, but when you've got friends riding in the area it might make more sense...

26-01-05, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwind

Well, lets see... I paid £190 inc vat for front and rear roadtecs plus fitting... Crossan Motorcycles would do the pair for £155 including postage. £160 from Seastar... First 2 prices I looked at

Fair enough. I only looked at TyresalesUk.co.uk and a couple of others.

I'll ring my local place and see what they'll do them for, I wouldn't be much surprised if I can get a set of roadtecs for under £170 fitted.

26-01-05, 10:08 PM

I think the better option would be to form a local syndicate "SV Ecosse?" and share the costs/work between you which then might become mighty attractive.

.

northwind · 26-01-05, 10:18 PM

yup, that was one of the things crossing my mind... Still unsure if a static balancer operated by me can really do as good a job as a dealer with all the gear, but that's more because I don't know enough about hwo they do it to decide, hoping soeone can put me straight...

plus it'd be nice to only have to return to dealer once a year for the MOT

26-01-05, 11:27 PM

When I read the question on if its a good idea to fit your own tyres, two things came to mind.

Is it A) worth the risk B) is it something the experienced riders on this site like rictus do.

The answer to both I think, is no.

27-01-05, 03:00 AM

I tend to agree. I don't really think the financial benefits outweigh the risk and liability assumption. THat would be a good toy to have at a track day though.....

rictus01 · 27-01-05, 10:05 AM

I used to fit my tyres when I was riding motocross and Enduro, but modern road tyres can't be fitted without the proper kit.

I don't know how good of a job balancing the wheel yourself you could do, and I'm not sure if it would make a great deal of difference on the SV, but why risk it, on the automatic machine you can't get it wrong.

for the cost of the bead breaker and weights and something to balance the wheels you could get yourself another set of wheels (most tyre places will fit free to loose wheels) for some sticky rubber.

I go through about ten or so sets of tyres a year so if I thought it was worth while, I'd still be doing it which I'm not.

perhaps a cost saving could be made if a group were to use the kit, but it's not something I'd be interested in anyway.

When pushing the bike, I like to know the tyres are sorted, just one less think to consider when riding.

Cheers Mark.

27-01-05, 11:40 AM

Food for thought about the safety of fitting your own tires:

One of the aspects of maintenance that appeal to me is that, at least doing jobs I know I am competant at, is the knowledge that they have been done safely/correctly. Likewise, I'd be detered from doing things like changing the brake lines myself, as I don't think I'd be able to do it as well/safely as a dealership.

Part of the attraction of learning more and more bike maintenance is that I'll have more confidence in the bike, knowing things have been done properly. Also, due to increased mechanical sympathy, will be less likely to break things and more likely to spot anything unusual.

As has been pointed out, tyres seem as something best left to the professionals. However, a friend of a friend is now in a wheelchair (paralysed from the neck down) because the wheels on his bike were fitted the wrong way round, by a garage. Admittedley, he was on the autobahn, doing 100mph, but had the tires been fitted correctly, they'd of taken it.

So, even if you don't fit your own tires (I don't) make damn sure you check the arrows are pointing in the right direction before riding off...

26-01-05, 08:52 PM	#1
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	Balancing and fitting tyres I saw a feature in Ride or TWO this month about fitting your own tyres... I've always just used dealers for this, after all I should only go through a Roadtec rear every year and a half or so, and fronts more rarely... But I got to thinking, the hardware is £150, but you stand to save maybe £20-£25 per tyre by getting cheap tyres and avoiding labour costs each time... It's more effort but it means not having to fit into dealer's diaries and just changind when you want to. So if I just used it myself it'd be paid for in 4 years or so (more f I get stuck into trackdays, I don't see a Rennsport or Diablo Corsa set lasting all that long) With this sort of simple gear, can a home mechanic do as good a job as a shop mechanic? (is the balancer even neccesary or could the same be achieved by cheaper means? I have a spare set of forks I could adapt...) __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

26-01-05, 09:57 PM	#3
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	Well, lets see... I paid £190 inc vat for front and rear roadtecs plus fitting... Crossan Motorcycles would do the pair for £155 including postage. £160 from Seastar... First 2 prices I looked at Though to be fair when i got those fitted they were pretty new on the market, it could be that the dealers' price would have dropped now. I might give them a bell tomorrow and see what they have to say. It's unlikely to make much sense for most riders, especially us using long-range boots like the Roadtec, but when you've got friends riding in the area it might make more sense... __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

26-01-05, 10:18 PM	#6
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	yup, that was one of the things crossing my mind... Still unsure if a static balancer operated by me can really do as good a job as a dealer with all the gear, but that's more because I don't know enough about hwo they do it to decide, hoping soeone can put me straight... plus it'd be nice to only have to return to dealer once a year for the MOT __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

27-01-05, 10:05 AM	#9
rictus01 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South London Posts: 9,799	I used to fit my tyres when I was riding motocross and Enduro, but modern road tyres can't be fitted without the proper kit. I don't know how good of a job balancing the wheel yourself you could do, and I'm not sure if it would make a great deal of difference on the SV, but why risk it, on the automatic machine you can't get it wrong. for the cost of the bead breaker and weights and something to balance the wheels you could get yourself another set of wheels (most tyre places will fit free to loose wheels) for some sticky rubber. I go through about ten or so sets of tyres a year so if I thought it was worth while, I'd still be doing it which I'm not. perhaps a cost saving could be made if a group were to use the kit, but it's not something I'd be interested in anyway. When pushing the bike, I like to know the tyres are sorted, just one less think to consider when riding. Cheers Mark. __________________ Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride!

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26-01-05, 09:32 PM	#2
Carsick Guest Posts: n/a	Where would you get these significantly cheaper tyres from? I've looked and I can manage less than £10 less than my local places ride-in ride-out fitting price, for any suitable tyre I care to look up. Btw, I also saw the article and was thinking the same thing as you.

26-01-05, 10:08 PM	#5
jonboy Guest Posts: n/a	I think the better option would be to form a local syndicate "SV Ecosse?" and share the costs/work between you which then might become mighty attractive. .

26-01-05, 11:27 PM	#7
Flamin_Squirrel Guest Posts: n/a	When I read the question on if its a good idea to fit your own tyres, two things came to mind. Is it A) worth the risk B) is it something the experienced riders on this site like rictus do. The answer to both I think, is no.

27-01-05, 03:00 AM	#8
Junior Guest Posts: n/a	I tend to agree. I don't really think the financial benefits outweigh the risk and liability assumption. THat would be a good toy to have at a track day though.....

27-01-05, 11:40 AM	#10
Ceri JC Guest Posts: n/a	Food for thought about the safety of fitting your own tires: One of the aspects of maintenance that appeal to me is that, at least doing jobs I know I am competant at, is the knowledge that they have been done safely/correctly. Likewise, I'd be detered from doing things like changing the brake lines myself, as I don't think I'd be able to do it as well/safely as a dealership. Part of the attraction of learning more and more bike maintenance is that I'll have more confidence in the bike, knowing things have been done properly. Also, due to increased mechanical sympathy, will be less likely to break things and more likely to spot anything unusual. As has been pointed out, tyres seem as something best left to the professionals. However, a friend of a friend is now in a wheelchair (paralysed from the neck down) because the wheels on his bike were fitted the wrong way round, by a garage. Admittedley, he was on the autobahn, doing 100mph, but had the tires been fitted correctly, they'd of taken it. So, even if you don't fit your own tires (I don't) make damn sure you check the arrows are pointing in the right direction before riding off...